Four Inventions for Cello Duo

I. Poco andante

II. Moderato

III. Lento

IV. Quickly

This set of short Inventions was composed in 2013, and follows on from my Three Inventions for Solo Soprano Saxophone, written a year earlier (and which won the Presteigne Festival Competition for Composers 2012). In the first piece, each cello presents its own characterful melody, which the other accompanies. A short coda of four repeated chords ends the movement. The second movement begins with the cellos in unison rhythm, before a quirky central section in which one of the instruments plays the wrong side of the bridge. The third piece is an homage to Vivaldi, and in particular to the slow movement of his Concerto for Two Violins in A minor, op.3 no.8, RV522. The final movement is spritely and energetic in nature, and material from the first piece returns to give a sense of finality to the set.